Wire fence



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

I. H. SWINK.

WIRE FENCE.

I. H; SWINK.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

I WIRE FENCE.

No. 541,131 Patnted June 18, 1895.

I-rw in Swirl/16:

nmouwo. WASHINGTON n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRVING H. SWVINK, OF DUBLIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

WIRE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 541,131, dated June 18, 1895.

Application filed A il 15, 1895- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IRVING H. SWINK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dublin, in the cou'ntyof Bucks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Fence, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in fences.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of permanent and V portable wire fences, and to provide simple and efficient means for preventing and for counteracting sagging in any portion of a wire fence between the posts thereof.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a portable fence provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a permanentlyerected fence provided with a straining device constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the straining device, illustrating the position of the parts before the straining-lever is brought to a perpendicular position.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawlugs.

1 designates a portable wire fence, composed of a series of horizontal fence wires 2, connected at intervals by stays 3, and having the terminals of the horizontal wires secured to attachment bars 4, adapted to be bolted to permanently mounted fence posts 5, whereby, when desired, the wire portion of the fence may be taken down by removing the bolts 6, and may be conveniently rolled and conveyed to any other desired place,or be stored away, for future use. The stays 3 may be of any desired construction, but are preferably made of wires, arranged vertically, and connected to the fence wires by rings or disks 7. Each ring or disk 7 is provided with a central opening, through which a crimped or bent portion of the stay is passed, and the fence wire passes through the crimped or bent portion of the stay, and is interposed between Serial No. 545,764. (No model.)

the same and the disk or ring, whereby the wires are-firmly locked together.

The fence wires are supported at intervals, or at any desired point, by a post or upright 8, which may be constructed of any suitable material, either wood or metal, and which is secured by wire ties 9, or by any suitable means to the horizontal fence wires. The post or upright 8 is designed to be firmly supported in a perpendicular position, and is provided at its top with a vertical slot or opening 10, receiving a horizontal bolt 11, which forms a fulcrum for a straining lever 12. The straining lever 12 is adjustable, and is provided with a series-of perforations 13, to receive the bolt 11,wh'ich is also adjustable in the slot 10; but perforations maybe provided in the post or upright, for the reception of the bolt 11.

The adjustable straining lever is provided at its upper end with a notch or groove 14 receivinga supporting or bracing wire15, which rests in the groove or notch 14, and which extends downward from the upper end of the straining lever at opposite sides thereof, and has its terminals connected to a central fence wire, or at any other desired point. The supporting or bracing wire 15 is placed in the groove or notch of the upper end of the straining lever, when the latter is in an inclined or horizontal position, after which the lower arm of the lever is swung downward, to bring the lever in a perpendicular position. The straining lever is secured in a perpendicularposi tion by a pin 16, or other fastening device passing through aperforation of the lever and the post orupright 8, a series of perforations 17 being provided to accommodate the adj ust- -ment of the straining lever. The upper portion of the straining lever is disposed on the projecting portion of the bolt between inner and outer nuts 18, and a block 19 may be interposed between the'lower portion of the lever and the post or upright 8.

' The adjustment of the straining lever enables the supporting or bracing wire to be drawn to any desired tension, sufficient to prevent sagging of the fence, or to counteract a portion of a fence which has become depressed or is sagging, and the tension device may be mounted on any kind of a wire fence, at any desired point, and may be provided at the time of the building of the fence, or be supplied after the fence has been constructed and has been in use for any length of time.

The upright 8 is portable, andis firmly supported upon a horizontal base 20, which may be centrally secured to the lower end of the post or upright S, and which is provided at its ends on its upper face with transverse grooves or recesses 21, beveled at their inner sides, and forming outer shoulders to receive the lower beveled ends of the inclined braces 22. The inclined braces 22 are located at opposite sides of the fence, and have their lower ends firmly held against outward movement on the base by the shouldered recesses thereof, and the upper ends of the braces are beveled, and fit in beveled recesses 23, of the post or u pright, and are secured to the same by a bolt 24. This construction may be readily taken apart, when it is desirable to move the fence, and the parts may be readily assembled in applying this construction to a fence.

In Figs. 3 and 40f the accompanying drawings, the straining device is shown applied to apparent that it is capable of readily counteracting sagging, and that when applied to a fence at the time of the erection thereof, sagging therein will be prevented.

It will be seen that the tension device is simple and comparatively inexpensive in constrnction, that it is applicable to all kinds of fences, and that it is capable of ready adjustment to obtain the necessary strain or tension.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a wire fence, of a vertical post or upright connected therewith, a vertically disposed straining lever, fulcrnmed on the post or upright, and having one portion detachably secured thereto, and a brace or support extending downward from the top of the lever and connected with the fence wires, substantially as described.

2.'The combination with a wire fence, of a post or upright connected therewith, a straining lever fulcrumed on the post or upright and designed to be secured in a vertical position, and a straining wire or brace centrally supported on the upper end of the lever and having its sides arranged at an inclination and secured at their lower terminals to the fence, substantially as described. 3. The combination with a wire fence, of a post or upright connected therewith and pro- 6 vided at its top with a slot, a bolt or pivot arranged in the slot, a straining lever provided with a series of perforations and fulcrnmed on the bolt or pivot and receiving the same in one of its perforations, said straining e .11

lever being provided at its upper end with a notch, and a supporting or bracing wire centrally arranged in the notch. and extending downward at an inclination at opposite sides of the lever and secured to the fence, sub- 15 stantially as described.

4. The combination with a fence, of or upright connected with the fence wires and provided at opposite sides with recesses located intermediate of the ends of the post.

or upright, a horizontal base receiving and supporting the lower end of the post or upright and provided with shouldered recesses having beveled inner portions, the inclined braces having beveled ends arranged in the recesses of the base and fitting in the recesses of the post or upright and secured thereto, is straining lever fnlcrumed on the upper portion of the post or upright, and the support or bracing wire arranged on the upper end of 9a a post' 

